By Dellaram Ghalriz, AUSF Student Media Contributor
08 July 2026
TEHRAN, Iran – Fardin Ghasemi is no stranger to finding the net. With 14 goals in Iran’s Premier Futsal League and multiple top-scorer titles across Youth, Omid, and League One competitions, he has built a reputation as a game-changing attacker long before his latest triumph. That scoring instinct once again defined the biggest match of his university career.
Ghasemi’s Key Role in the Final
In the final of the First National Student Futsal League, Payame Noor University of Qom faced Shahid Beheshti University. Ghasemi, leading the Payame Noor attack, controlled the tempo from the front.
Shahid Beheshti started aggressively and struck first, but Payame Noor responded with composure. Through sharp movement, precise passing, and smart decision-making, Ghasemi helped turn the match around as Payame Noor scored three unanswered goals to secure a 3–1 victory.
The win crowned Payame Noor University of Qom as national champions and earned the team the right to represent Iranian university students at the 2026 FISU World University Championship Futsal in July.
The Key to Victory: Experience, Unity, and Leadership
Looking back on their championship campaign, Ghasemi pointed out that the path to this national title was filled with challenges. Limited time for full-team collective training forced every player to prioritize individual match readiness to fill the gaps.
“Because we didn’t have much time for collective training, I focused mainly on individual preparation,” Ghasemi said. “That helped me perform at a high level during the matches.”
He emphasized that the overall quality of the competition was high, with most teams arriving fully prepared. According to Ghasemi, technical ability, player experience, team unity, and the tactical leadership of head coach Mehdi Ghiasi ultimately made the difference 
From Grassroots to the Premier League
Ghasemi’s performance in the final reflected years of steady progress through Iranian futsal. He rose through youth and junior futsal in Qom Province, excelled in national youth competitions, and helped Delsukhtegan Qom win the Second Division league and earn promotion to League One, and eventually reach the top-flight Premier League.
He now brings five years of top-flight Premier League experience, having played for Ferdows Qom, Ana Sanat Qom, and Sunich Saveh. Along the way, he has represented Iran at multiple levels, including the Youth, Omid, and Under-23 national teams.
From Collecting Balls to Leading the Score Charts
Ghasemi’s journey began far from packed arenas and championship trophies.
“From the age of 11, I loved watching futsal matches,” he said. “Most days, I spent my time collecting balls on dusty courts. That’s what kept my passion alive.”
That passion translated into individual honors, including Top Scorer of the Youth Premier League, Top Scorer of the Omid Premier League, and Top Scorer of Iran’s League One futsal.
Injury, Education, and Bigger Ambitions
One of the toughest moments of his career came in 2021, when a serious ankle injury sidelined him for five months.
“That period was very difficult,” he said. “But I worked hard to come back stronger.”
Alongside futsal, Ghasemi continues his academic path as a bachelor’s student in sports science, stressing the importance of balancing education and athletics.
“An athlete should grow technically, mentally, and academically,” he said. “I tried to develop all three at the same time.”
Winning the national university title has only sharpened his goals. He now aims to play for bigger clubs, earn a senior national team call-up, and continue progressing in both sport and education.
